As the ATP Tour’s top singles and doubles players compete for year end honors at the O2 Arena in London, the majority of the WTA Tour has wrapped their season and are on holiday as are many tennis journalists and fans. However in his recent … Continue reading Bill Simmons Puts Tennis Front and Center

Unlike football, baseball, basketball and soccer, tennis is an individual global sport without a centralized organization. There are four major tennis organizations: The International Tennis Federation (ITF), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and United States Tennis Association (USTA). One must also … Continue reading Fan Series: Organizing Fan, Player and Sport Well Being

Though tennis continues to lead the pack in long-term participation growth for kids ages 6-17, it still is not a popular sport in America. Tennis can learn much from America’s most popular sports: football (NFL) and baseball (MLB).

With the strength of a boxer, the endurance of a marathoner, the flexibility of a gymnast, and the hand-eye-coordination of a golfer, tennis players must take the court five to seven times to win a tournament. Tennis is as taxing on the body as football, … Continue reading Fan Series: Tennis Fandom is Niche and Rabid

Starz’ Flesh and Bone is creator Moira Walley-Beckett’s elegy to dance. She poetically reflects on the beautiful and troubling world of ballet: fear, anorexia, drugs, sex, and exploitation. The show reaches some great highs, but far too many lows to mark it as a critic or viewer … Continue reading TV Review: Flesh and Bone Fails to Soar

When I started writing this piece, I planned it as a single column examining the sport’s lack of popularity in America. After many weeks, I began to wonder if the sport was satisfied with its niche status or if it was willing to address core … Continue reading Fan Series: Game, Set and Match